Obituary of Thomas Burke

Tom Burke ("Blade"), was born in Phila. to Bessie Scanlan and Joe Burke on August 25, 1946. He is survived by his wife AnnaRe (Walsh) nee Kirwan; his three daughters, Bridgette Burke, Maureen (John) Flocco, Elizabeth (Raymond) Sharkey; stepdaughter, Jeanine Walsh (Michael) Palinkas; his sisters Margaret (Thomas) Gardner, Mary (Charles) Monaghan, and his brother John (Patricia). He also leaves behind his thirteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Tom was predeceased by his eldest son Thomas, his brothers Michael, Joe (Barbara), Bill (Dorothy) and Jerry (Mary Ann). Tom attended St. Edward's Elementary School and went on to Northeast Catholic High School for Boys before joining the Army in 1965 and shipping off to Vietnam. After retiring as a truck driver from Berger Bros. Building Products and Teamsters Local 107, Tom and his wife moved to the South Jersey shore where he worked seasonally for North Wildwood Maintenance. He volunteered at the DAV driving veterans to various medical appointments in the tri-state area, and was an advocate of Alcoholics Anonymous, helping many on the road to sobriety throughout his 40+ years with the Friends of Bill W. He belonged to a dart league, a shuffleboard league and played weekly card games with "the guys". Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the VFW, the DAV, the Men of Malvern and the AOH. He also volunteered at the Vietnam Veterans' Museum of Cape May County, as well as working to establish the Gold Star Mothers' Memorial in North Wildwood and escorting Coast Guard Cadets to various events. Funeral Services for Tom will be held at Evoy Funeral Home, 3218 Bayshore Rd., N. Cape May, NJ on Saturday October 26 at 1PM with a visitation from 11am until the time of service. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Evoy Funeral Homes, Inc., PO Box 1010, 3218 Bayshore Road North, Cape May, NJ 08204 has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be shared at www.evoyfuneralhome.com. Donations in Tom's memory are requested in lieu of flowers. They may be sent to the Knights of Columbus or the VFW (please specify which) at the same address: PO 866, Wildwood NJ 08260.